Let's Talk About John Wayne

The Most Famous Western Movie Cowboy of All Times!

This week we talked all about Marion Mitchell Morrison, better known to movie fans as John Wayne. Some of you also might know him best for his legendary nickname Duke, named after his trusty Airedale companion. We thought we would share a little with you all about his legacy. His family later moved to California where he chased his dreams of playing football, but a bodysurfing injury lead him in a new direction to becoming the legendary movie star he is today. His devotion to following his dream to movie stardom led him to work for Fox Film Corporation on the stage crew as an extra in many football films.


His acting career was largely started by his role in the 1939 John Ford movie, Stagecoach, starring as the “Ringo Kid,” a fugitive on a mission to track down the man who killed his father and brother. After making his debut in Stagecoach, he appeared in 142 motion pictures, of which 83 were Westerns, playing cowboys, cavalrymen, and marshals. He spent time with known cowboys and was dedicated to bringing the true cowboy way of life to the big screen.

John Wayne (Skeeze) Pixabay 2014

He was best known for his role in True Grit, which is our personal favorite John Wayne movie here at the ranch. In this movie, he played Rooster Cogburn, a drunken U.S. Marshal who reluctantly helps a young girl bring the man who murdered her dad’s hired hand into custody. She hired him to help her track down the villain because she felt he had true grit. His character undeniably did have true grit with his outgoing and tenacious attitude. He later won his first Academy Award for Best Actor for True Grit. True Grit, is still today, one of the most iconic John Wayne films you surely don’t want to miss if you haven’t seen it already. Many of his films also display his memorable quotes, including “Hurry it up. We’re burning daylight.”

To read more of John Wayne’s legendary quotes or to learn more about this iconic western movie star, visit his website. If you’re planning a vacation to Iowa, be sure to visit the John Wayne Birthplace, and keep John Wayne’s vision of the Old West and his legacy alive! Help us celebrate this amazing cowboy all week long by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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John Wayne

True Grit

Stagecoach 

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John Wayne